Match-mantjfactdbing machine



Nov. 4, 1930. S NELSON 1,780,359

MATCH MANUFACTURING MACHINE File d- Dec. 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J2 filigj Nov. 4, 1930. s. NELSON 1,780,359

'- MATCH MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jimoz/Vlyoz;

NOV. 4, 1930. 5 NELSON 1.780359 MATCH MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jimon JVZJoJJ Nov. 4-, 1930. 5, NELSON 1,780,359

MATCH MANUFACTURING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 18, 1929 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a u n a n e n u o u o a o n o a n u 0a 1729219 5554017 7 68 j Z1, 2 I

Patented Nov. 4, 1930 PATENT o F cE SIMON NELSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA MATCH-MANUFACTURING- MACHINE Application filed December 18, 1929.. Serial No. 414,907.

My invention relates to a match manufao' tuning machine and v has'for its object the provision of such a machlne that is continuous in itsaction and to this end it consists" of'the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The splint-carrying belt in present match manufacturing machines, which carries the splints through the'various different processes in forming match, head's thereon, is operated with an intermittent movement. This belt is very long and made up of a multiplicity ofpivotally connected'fiat plates each having a multiplicity of transverse and longitudinal rows of holes in which the splints are setas they are manufactured and frictionally held. The transverse rows of holes are all equally spaced except that a 0 row is omitted at the joint between adjacent plates. This requires the plates to be given a predetermined number of short steps of movement, corresponding to the number of transverse rows of holes in each plate, and 5 a single long intervening step of movement between the groups of said short steps to compensate for the omitted rows of holes between the plates. These differential steps of movement of the belt requires timed differ- 9 enti al' movements of the splint-forming knives therewith, of the carrying of the splints to the belt, of the setting of the same therein, and of the punch-out mechanism which. removes the finished matches from the belt.

The operating mechanism for this type of a machine is very complicated and includes theuseof cams that easily get out of adjustm out, which, together with excessive wear and frequent breakage produced by the'constantly starting and stopping of the belt causes overthrow of. the belt wherein the transverse rows of holes, when brought into loading and'ejecting positions, are not aligned with the splints to beset therein andwiththe punches of the ejecting mechanism, respectivel'y. To minimize this overthrow friction brakes are used, which brakes are objectionable owing to the facts that no adjustment will work equally well on both the short and splints, atthe long steps of the chain movement, that the drag of the brakes causes excessive wearon the mechanism and that their power requirements are high.

My invention involves variousnovel and important features notably among which are the operation of the belt at a constant and uniform speed by the use ofsimple, positive andeflicient driving mechanism, the inter mittent stopping of the manufacture of the completion of the filling of one plate until the first row in the next plate is brought into loading position, to compensafe for the omitted rows of holes betweenadj acent plates, and a simple compensating punch out mechanism which permits the completed matches to be removed from the belt while the same is in motioin B'y operating the belt'at a constant speed cams and other complicate-d mechanism is eliminated as well as friction brakes and considerably less power is required to operate'the same.

Fig. l is a. fragmentary left sideelevation of a match making machine at the loading and ejecting end tion embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation-ofthe match making machine as shown inFig. 1

Fig. 3 is a view principally in rear elevation with some parts sectioned on the line 33of'Fig;1; v

F ig. 4 is a view partly in plan and partlyin section takenon the line 4,4 ofF-ig. 1;

Fig: 5 is a view'partly in plan andpartly in section taken on the line 5'5' of Figyl;

Fig.6 is a fragmentary detail viewprincipally in section taken on the line '66 of ga Fig. 7. is an elevation ofthe feeding mechanism for the feed rolls ;v i

Fig. 8 is a. detail view inv the line 88-of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in. eles vation andpartly in section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 2;

sectiontaken on thereof having the inven- Fig. 10 is a View partly in plan and partl Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 11 but showing the parts in difierent positions.

The numeral 15 indicates a main frame on the top of which is fixed a secondary frame 16. A multiplicity of splint-forming knives 17 are fixed to a vertically movable crosshead 18 mounted in a way 19 on the main frame 15. These knives 17 are arranged in a horizontal row which extends transversely of the machine. As shown, two laterally spaced rows of wooden blocks X, from which the splints Y are formed, of a given thickness and length but of various different widths, are fed to the knives 17 by a step by step movement and each step of movement corresponds to the thickness of the splints Y cut therefrom. These blocks X are placed on an endless belt, not shown, with their grain vertical and carried thereby and delivered onto a fixed slide 20 on the base of the secondary frame 16 and having a channel in which each row of said blocks is held. This slide 20 extends into the secondary frame 16 from the front thereof, at the right of the knives 17 and at an oblique angle thereto,.see Fig. 5, so that the rows of splints Y cut from the blocks X obliquely thereacross.

The blocks X after being delivered onto the slide 20 are fed, as previously stated by a step b step movement, by inner and outer pairs 0 upper and lower feed rolls 21 and 22, respectively, between which the blocks X move. These feed rolls 21 and 22 have )eripheral corrugations 23 which extend longitudinally thereof and which rolls are journaled in fixed bearing plates 24 on the outer faces of the sides of the slide 20.

Each pair of rolls 21 and 22 are connected at their left hand ends by a pair of intermeshing spur gears 25 outward of the respective bearing plate 2 1 and the two lower spur gears 25 are connected by an idle intermediate gear 26 journaled on said bearing plate. The step of movement imparted to thepairs of rolls 21 and 22 is delivered to the lower roll of the inner pair 21, as will hereinafter be described. The lower rolls of each pair 21 and 22 work in grooves in the bottom of the slide 20 with their corrugations 23 extending thereabove for contact with the lower ends of the blocks X and the upper rolls of said pairs are above said blocks and their corrugations 23 contact with the upper ends thereof.

A cover plate 27 overlies the slide 20 at the knives 17 and holds the blocks X thereon. The left hand longitudinal edge portion of the cover plate 27 is spaced from the crosshead 18 to leave a passageway therebetween for the reciprocating knives 17 and the splints Y.

It may be here stated that the splints Y are cut by the knives 17 from the blocks X during the downward stroke of the crosshead 18 and cooperating with said knives is a butting bar 28 which, together with said knives feed the splints Y to an overlying endless traveling belt 30. This butting bar 28 is mounted on the cross-head 18 and, for the purpose of this case, it will only be necessary to state that the same is reciprocated transversely of the movement of the cross-head 18 to move under the splints Y at the comple- "tion of the cutting thereof and retracted during the 'return or downward movement of said cross-head.

The belt 30 is made up of a multiplicity of pivotally connected links in the form of a flat plate 31 having on their backs, at the ends thereof, the teeth of a pair of endless sectional racks 32 that extend longitudinally of the belt 30. In each link or belt 30 is a plurality of longitudinal and transverse rows of splint-receiving holes 33. The number of holes in each transverse row corresponds to the number of splints Y simultaneously cut from the blocks X during each downward movement of the cross-head 18 for each step of movement imparted to the pairs of feed rolls 21 and 22. The space between each two transverse row of holes 33, at the joint between adjacent plates 31, corresponds to the distance between the transverse rows of holes in said plates or, in other words, one of the transverse row of holes is emitted at the joint between adjacent plates 31. Said plates 31 at the outer ends of the holes 33 are countersunk to facilitate the insertion of the splints Y therein.

The belt 30 at the front end of the machine makes a right angle turn and runs under upper and lower pairs of spur gears 341 and 35, respectively, which mesh with the racks 32. The transverse shafts 3 1 and 35 on which the gears .34 and 35 are keyed, respectively, are journaled in hearings on the secondary frame 16 and which shafts are driven, as will hereinafter appear.

From the p air of gears 35 the belt 30 travels horizontally to the rear and the filling position of the holes 33 in each transverse row is, as they are successively brought into a vertical plane which extends substantially through the axes of the pair of gears 35 and in which position of said holes 33 they are in axial alignment with the splints Y. During the upward movement of the cross-head 18 the splints Y held by the knives 17 have their upper end portions forced by the butting bar 28 into the overlying row of holes 33 with a squeezing fit which frictionally holds said splints in the plate 31 in depending positions. The horizontal position of the belt 30 as it moves away from the gears 35 slides in the rabbeted inner longitudinal edges of a pair of fixed rails 37 on the secondary frame 16. After the splints Y are secured in the plates 31 they are carried thereby through the various different processes of forming the match heads and for the purpose of this case,

it will not be necessary to consider the same.

. The return section of'the belt with the completed matches Z moves downward in a vertical planeto the gears 34 Where the transverse rows of said matches are successively ejected from the plates 31. The match ejecting mechanism includes a horizontal transverse row of fixed punches 38 that are laterally spaced to enter the holes 33 in each transverse row in the plates 31 to be aligned therewith. These ejecting punches 38 are secured to an upstanding vertical flange on the left hand longitudinal edge of atransverse bar 39 and project to the left toward the downwardly moving vertical section of the belt 30, see Fig. 1. It may be here stated that the belt 30 has a continuous traveling movement, as will hereinafter appear.

As the matches Z are ejected from the belt 30 during its traveling movement, the ejecting punches 38 are moved with the belt 30 at the same speed and at the same time are projected to eject the matches Z and tl1ereafter retracted to withdraw the punches 38 from the holes 33 and then moved in an opposite direction to the travel of the belt 30 to their original position.

Referring now to the driving mechanism for the machine. The numeral 43 indicates a transverse crank-shaft journaled on the base of the main frame 15 and driven from an electric motor or other source of power, not shown. A longitudinally adjustable rod 44 connects the cross-head 18 to the crank on the shaft 43 for reciprocating said cross-head. The shaft 34 is positively driven from the crank-shaft 43 by the following connections to wit:

A countershaft 45 journaled on the main frame 15 is driven by a train of spur gears '46 from the right hand end of the crankshaft 43, in respect to Fig. 3, and the shaft of the gears 34 is operated from a countershaft 45 by a vertical shaft 47 the lower end of which is connected by a worm and worm gear 48 to theleft hand end of said countershaft and the upperend of which is connected by a bevel pinion and a beveled gear 49 to the shaft of the gears 34.

The shaft 35 is positively driven from the shaft 34' by a train of three spur gears 50 two-of which are on the shafts 34 and 35 and the other or intermedlate one 1s on an idle stub shaft on thesecondary frame 16.

1 The bevel gear 49 is, as shown, formed with the spur gear 50 on the shaft34 and thetwo shafts 34 and 35 are made adjustable to the gears 50 thereon by slot and screw connections 36.

There is always sufficient slack in the belt 30 between thepair of gears 34 and 35 so that the shafts 34' and 35' may be independently circumferentially adjusted to axially align one transverse row of holes 33 with the knives 17 and another row ofsaid holes with the punches 38 so that thereafter the transverse rows of holes 33 will be successively brought into alignment with "said knives and. punches.

Referring again to' the "operating connections for imparting a step by step rotary movement to the lower feed roll '21 from which the 1 other rolls 21 and are operated,

th numeral 51"i'ndicates a horizontal arm pivoted to a bracket on the base of :the main frame 15 for verticalswinging movement and having on its free end roller "52 whiclrtravcls on peripheral cam 53 secured tothe left i i iidofthedrivencrankshaft 43'andithe d1. 54 indicates a horizontal lever intermediately pivoted to the shaft of said lower feed roll. Sn the outer end of :the Eleverr54 a gravity-held pawl 55 which cooperates with a ratchet wheel '56 on'the shaft ofthe lower feed 1 01121. A long 1'od57 connects the arm 51 at an intermediate point to :the inner arm of the lever 54 and along coiled spring 58 has one of its endsarichored to base of the secondary frame 16 and its other end attached to the rod 57 by a sliding sleeve 59 on said rod and held-by a set-screw J where adjusted. This spring 58 holds the arm with itsToller 52 on the peripheral cam 53 and for'each rotation of the/cam 53 a step of movement is imparted to the ratchet wheel 56 by the-connections just described. A

gravity-held pawl 60 on the right hand bearing plate 24 cooperates with the ratchet Wheel 56in prevent backward rotation thereof.

The operatingconnections from the crankshaft 43 to the lower feedroll 21 are rendered inoperative or,in other words, do not impart a step of movement to said roll, after a predetermined number of steps of movement,

which'corresponds to the number of trans verse rows of holes 33 in each plate 31, so that there will be no splints 'Ycut-or fed to the belt30 during the movementof the joints betw'eensaid plates as theycross the path of travel of said splints to the belt 30; The mechanism for causing this skip inthe'feedingmovement of the feed rolls 21 and-22 includes a countershaft 61 journaled in bearings on the mainframe 15 which is continuously" driven from the crankshaft 43 by a train of gears-62,'0ne of which meshes with the gear 011 said shaft in the train 16;

A spur pinion 63 on the countcrshaft -61 meshes with-a spur gear 64 ournaled on the main frame 15 and which gear is provided 4 with a roller-equippedcrank pin 65 arranged to engage a cam block 66 on the'arm 51 for each rotation of said gear and hold the arm 51 depressed at the limit of its movement by the cam 53 and against the action of the spring '57. The period of time required for each rotation of the gear 64 or, inother words, the period of time between the skipped steps of movement of the feed rolls 21 and 22 is equivalent tothe period of time required for the travel of each plate 31 over its loading position. 7

Referring again to the ejecting punches 38 the connections for reciprocating the same laterally at the same speed at which the belt 30 is traveling, includes a transverse rock shaft 67 journaled in bearings on the secondary frame 16 and having a pair of short horizontal crank arms 68 that are connected by a pair of upright links 69 to lugs on the. under side of the bar 39. These connections not only support the bar 39 from the rock shaft 67 but impart a lateral reciprocatory movement to the punches 38.

The rock shaft 67 is operated from an cecentric 7 0 on the hub of one of the gears of the train 46 by a long longitudinally adj ustable upright rod 71 having on its lower end an eccentric strap 72 in which said eccentric works and its upper end is pivoted to a crank arm 73 on the rock shaft 67. Said rod 71 is attached to the crank arm 7 3 for adjustment to ward or from the rock shaft 67 to vary the throw of said crank arm, and hence, the lateral reciprocatory movement of the punches 38.

The following connections are provided for endwise reciprocating the punches 38 to produce the projecting and retracting movements thereof, to wit: A rock shaft 74 is journaled in bearings on the secondary frame 16 and provided with a pair of upstanding crank arms 7 5 connected by a pair of horizontal rods 76 to the bar 39. These rods 76 extend through upstanding lugs 77 on the bar 39 and are adjustably secured thereto by pairs of opposing nuts 7 8 that are operable to vary the operative length of said rods, and hence, the endwise reciprocatory movement of the punches 38. The rock shaft 7 i is operated from an eccentric 79 on the hub of one of the gears in the train 62 by a longitudinally adjustable rod 80 having on its lower end an eccentric strap 81 in which the eccentric 7 9 works and its upper end is pivoted to a crank arm 82 on said rock shaft.

From the above description it is evident that the endless belt 30 is driven at a constant and uniform speed from the crank-shaft 43 by simple and positive connections which eliminate the troublesome and expensive cam mechanism now used to impart intermittent movement to the splint-carrying belt and the use of friction brakes designed to minimize the overthrow in respect to the loading and ejecting positions due to this intermittent movement of the belt.

By causing the feed rolls 21 and 22 to skip the block feeding movement at the completion of the loading of each plate 31 with splints Y no splints are manufactured while the oint between the two plates 31 is passing over the splint loading position to compensate for the omitted row of holes 33 between adjacent plates and thus permitting continuous movement of the belt 30.

The lateral movement of the punches 38 is also necessary to permit continuous movement of the belt 30. During a movement of the belt 30 equal to one-quarter the distance between two transverse rows of holes 33 the punches 38 enter one row of said holes and eject the matches Z, during the next onequarter of this travel the. punches 38 are retracted from the respective row of holes 33 and during the last one-half of this travel the punches 38 are returned to their original position and aligned with the next following transverse row of holes 33. By the use of a continuously moving belt the speed and capacity of the machine may be materially increased. Furthermore, the use of a continuously moving belt greatly eliminates wear, danger of breakage and overthrow.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a continuously moving splint-carrying belt comprising pivotally connected plates having transverse and longitudinal rows of holes, splint-forming knives and cooperating mechanism for inserting splints formed by the knives in said holes, and a feed device including a roll for moving the splint-forming material to the knives, driving mechanism for the feed roll including a ratchet wheel, a cooperating pawl, a driven cam, a yieldingly held arm operated by the cam, connections from the arm to the pawl and a wheel rotated in timed relation to the cam and having a member for intermittently holding the arm out of action of the cam to render the pawl inactive.

2. In a machine of the class described, an endless belt comprising pivotally connected splint-carrying plates having transverse and longitudinal rows of holes, said plates having rack teeth, a pair of toothed wheels meshing with said teeth, a cross-head, splintforming knives and cooperating mechanism on the cross-head for inserting splints formed by the knives in said holes, ejecting mechanism including punches mounted for compound reciprocatory movement longitudinally of the belt and toward and from the same, a driven crank-shaft, connections from the crank of said shaft to the cross-head for reciprocating the same, a counter-shaft, a train of gears for driving the countershaft from the crank-shaft, an intermediate shaft gear connected to the countershaft and to said pair of toothed wheels, and connections from the crank-shaft for imparting said compound reciprocatory movements to the punches of the ejecting mechanism.

3. In a machine of the class described, a traveling belt having splint receiving holes, and ejecting mechanism for removing splints from the holes including a gang of punches perpendicular to the belt, connections, in-

eluding rockable elements on which the gang of "punches is pivoted, operable to reciprocate the punches laterally longitudinally of the belt and other connections holding the gang of punches against pivotal movement and operable to reciprocate the same endwise.

4. In a machine of the class described, a traveling belt having splint receiving holes, and ejecting mechanism for removing splints from the holes including a gang of punches perpendicular to the belt, connections, including links on which the gang of punches is pivoted, operable to reciprocate the punches laterally longitudinally of the belt and other connections holding the gang of punches against pivotal movement on the links and operable to reciprocate the same endwise.

5. In a machine of the class described, a traveling belt having splint receiving holes, and ejecting mechanism for removing splints from the holes including a gang of punches perpendicular to the belt, a rock shaft hav-- ing crank arms, links pivotally connecting the gang of punches to the crank arms and operable under the action of the rock shaft to reciprocate the same laterally longitudinally of the belt and other connections holding the gang of punches against pivotal movement on the links and operable to reciprocate the same endwise.

6. In a machine of the class described, a traveling belt having splint receiving holes, and an ejecting mechanism for removing splints from the holes including a gang of punches perpendicular to the belt, said gang of punches being mountedfor compound reciprocatory movements laterally longitudinally of the belt and endwise toward and from the same, a driven shaft, operating connections from the shaft to the gang of punches for reciprocating the same laterally longitudinally of the belt and other operating connections from the shaft to the gang of punches for reciprocating the same'endwise toward and from the belt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SIMON NELSON.

Lani A 

